Joe Lieberman declines to run in 2012

Joe Lieberman won't run for office in 2010. CC by Unknown/Wikimedia Commons

Senator Joe Lieberman has announced that he will not run for re-election in 2012. After more than 20 years as a United States Senator, Joe Lieberman has decided to retire. After four terms, he has decided it is time to move on.

Senator Joe Lieberman getting out after four terms

Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) has finally a he’ll retire from Senate after four terms in office. The New York Times reports that a press conference in a Marriott hotel in Stamford was the site of the announcement from Lieberman, and it was expected. He made a joke about telling his wife that “when Regis leaves television, I’ll leave the Senate,” while saying he wanted to move to something else. Regis Philbin indeed recently announced his retirement from television. Next Lieberman made it clear he didn’t quite agree with Republicans or Democrats right now. Lieberman is an independent in the Senate — one of only two right now. Both tend to lean Democrat in most decisions.

Political career ending

Joe Liebermann has been in elected office for almost 40 years. He was elected to serve as the Attorney General of Connecticut from 1983 to 1989 after being a State Senator in Connecticut for 10 years. He took his seat in the U.S. Senate immediately after his Attorney General post. He’s held the position since, despite losing the Democratic primary in 2006. He ran successfully as an independent. He has been criticized for advocating the war in Iraq and endorsing John McCain in the 2008 election, citing Barack Obama’s lack of experience.

Others want the position

Many successors are thinking of running to take his place. Linda McMahon, who unsuccessfully ran as the Republican candidate against Richard Blumenthal, is rumored to still want a Senate seat. There was an announcement already from former Secretary of State of Connecticut, Susan Bysiewicz. She plans on running in the 2012 election for the seat.